Cap with ventilation channels

ABSTRACT

A cap with ventilating holes is provided by the invention. More particularly, the cap is formed with a main body having a curved band shape, which includes a moisture absorbing surface on an inner surface and a Velcro layer or clips on an outer surface of the main body in addition to vertical ventilating holes formed vertically through the main body and horizontal ventilating holes formed horizontally between the vertical ventilating holes and the inner surface of the main body, which facilitates the airflows between inside and outside of the cap.

CROSS REFERENCE

This application claims foreign priority under Paris Convention and 35U.S.C. §119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2008-0030410, filed Apr.1, 2008 with the Korean Intellectual Property Office.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cap. More particularly, thisinvention relates to a cap with vertical ventilation channel holesfacilitating airflows between the inside and outside of the cap alongdirections of up and down and into the cap.

Hats or caps are used for blocking sunlight or keeping warmth inside.Especially when one puts on the hat or cap, airflows between inside andoutside gets very important and affects selection of a cap on themarket. A plurality of methods to provide such a good airflow throughthe hat had been proposed. A prior art provides a number of ventilatingholes on the hat or cap itself for airflow between inside and outside ofthe hat. However, the airflows do not usually improve because the hatbecomes too close to a head. Further, such structure tends to foiloutlook of the hat.

To solve such problems, recently an art providing a spatial structureenabling airflow has been suggested. Accordingly, a need for aventilator for hat has been present for a long time. This invention isdirected to solve these problems and satisfy the long-felt need. In aregistered Korean utility patent 20-0342123 by the applicant, forexample, to provide airflow, a supporting rim for airflows was formed byattaching top and bottom plates around a corrugated board with a fabricprotecting surface contacting forehead inside the hat and a Velcro forattaching/detaching the supporting rim to/from the inner rim of the hat.

The above prior art by the applicant of the invention enabled theairflow between the inside and outside of the hat through theventilating holes provided vertically on the corrugated board, coolingthe inside of the hat. However, the prior art by the applicant hadprovided airflow vertically only, which limits the ventilation.

Also, since the supporting rim was not provided as a single product butan assembly having complicated structure such as the top and bottomplates attached around the corrugated board, the productivity wasseriously deteriorated. In addition, there was a problem that the topand bottom plates and the corrugated board were easily detached fromeach other due to moisture such as sweat while putting on.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention contrives to solve the disadvantages of the priorart by the applicant. An objective of the invention is to provide a capfacilitating a natural airflow throughout the cap.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cap with ventilatingholes or channels which facilitates airflows between the inside andoutside of the cap and accommodates its curvature to different sizes ofcaps.

Still another object of the invention is to provide ventilating portionsin a monolith body, which is adapted to be attached at a portion ofinner rim of a crown portion and enhances the manufacturability,reliability, and airflow efficiency.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a cap, which iseasily cleaned and maintained for sanitary usage thanks to the fact thatthe ventilating portion can be attached to or detached from the capconveniently.

An aspect of the invention provides a cap comprising a crown portionhaving an inner rim, a main body, a plurality of vertical ventilatingholes, and a plurality of horizontal ventilating holes.

The main body disposed at a portion of inner rim of the crown portion,the main body has generally a curved band shape, comprising an outersurface, an inner surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, and two sideportions. The plurality of vertical ventilating holes are providedbetween the top and bottom edges of the main body, and the plurality ofvertical ventilating holes are separated by a plurality of verticaldividers.

The plurality of horizontal ventilating holes are provided between theplurality of vertical ventilating holes and the inner surface of themain body, and the plurality of horizontal ventilating holes areseparated by a plurality of horizontal dividers.

The ventilating portion including the main body, the plurality ofvertical ventilating holes, and the plurality of horizontal ventilatingholes is formed in a monolith body.

The cap or the ventilating portion may further comprise a moistureabsorbing surface provided on at least part of the inner surface of themain body, and a Velcro layer provided on the outer surface of the mainbody, and the Velcro layer is adapted to attach the main body to aninner rim of the crown portion.

The cap may further comprise a plurality of clips provided at the topedge of the main body over the outer surface of the main body, each ofwhich is adapted to fasten to and release a part of an inner rim of thecrown portion.

At least one of the plurality of vertical ventilating holes may have anoblong shape of cross-section, length of which being longer than abouttwo times of one of the other vertical ventilating holes. The top edgeof the main body may be narrower than the bottom edge of the main bodysuch that the outer and inner surfaces of the main body are taperedbetween the top and bottom edges.

The plurality of horizontal dividers may be disposed behind theplurality of vertical dividers viewing from the outer surface of themain body. The inner surface may comprise a peripheral portionsurrounding the plurality of horizontal ventilating holes, and theplurality of horizontal dividers may be extended from the peripheralportion.

The main body may be configured to cover a part of the inner rim of thecrown portion. The main body may be configured to cover fullcircumference of the inner rim of the crown portion, and the two sideportions may be connected with each other to form a ring.

The main body may be configured to bend accordingly to curvature of theinner rim of the crown portion. The plurality of vertical ventilatingholes may comprise a vertical ventilating hole with an oblong shape ofcross-section, which is configured to facilitate bending of the mainbody.

The advantages of the present invention are: the cap facilitates theairflows between the inside and outside of the hat; and the ventilatingportion is formed in one monolith body such that installing and cleaningare convenient.

Although the present invention is briefly summarized, the fullerunderstanding of the invention can be obtained by the followingdrawings, detailed description and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective front view showing a ventilating portionaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective rear view of the ventilating portion of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a ventilating portion according to anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of two ventilating portions installed on acap according to another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a ventilating portion having a ringshape installed on a cap according to still another embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a ventilating portion with clipsaccording still another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a ventilating portion with clipsaccording still another embodiments of the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a ventilating portion having an oblongcentral vertical ventilating hole for hat according to anotherembodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-3 and 6-8 show a ventilating portion according to an embodimentof the present invention. FIGS. 4 and 5 show ventilating portionsinstalled on a cap 2.

An aspect of the invention provides a ventilating portion, which isformed as a monolith body by molding. Such monolithic structure canmaximize the productivity, reliability, and airflow efficiency of theventilating portion, and makes it possible to install, uninstall, andcleanse for maintaining and reusing of the ventilating portion.

Another aspect of the invention provides a ventilating portioncomprising a crown portion, a main body 10, a plurality of verticalventilating holes 12, and a plurality of horizontal ventilating holes13. The main body 10 has generally a curved band shape, comprising anouter surface 112, an inner surface 114, a top edge 116, a bottom edge118, and two side portions 120.

The plurality of vertical ventilating holes 12 are provided between thetop and bottom edges 112, 114 of the main body 10, and the plurality ofvertical ventilating holes 12 are separated by a plurality of verticaldividers 122. The crisscrossed structure of the vertical and horizontalventilating holes 12, 13 provide complex and thorough airflows betweenthe inside and outside of the cap 2.

The plurality of horizontal ventilating holes 13 are provided betweenthe plurality of vertical ventilating holes 12 and the inner surface 114of the main body 10, and the plurality of horizontal ventilating holes13 are separated by a plurality of horizontal dividers 132.

For the better performance, the ventilating portion may be formed in amonolith body. The ventilating portion may further comprise a moistureabsorbing surface 20 provided on at least part of the inner surface 114of the main body 10, and a Velcro layer 25 provided on the outer surface112 of the main body 10, and the Velcro layer 25 is adapted to attachthe ventilating portion for cap 2 to an inner rim of the cap 2. Incertain embodiments of the invention, the Velcro layer 25 may besubstituted by a fabric having similar property.

The ventilating portion may further comprise a plurality of clips 30provided at the top edge 116 of the main body 10 over the outer surface112 of the main body 10, each of which is adapted to fasten to andrelease a part of an inner rim of the cap 2.

At least one 12′ of the plurality of vertical ventilating holes 12 mayhave an oblong shape of cross-section, length of which being longer thanabout two times of one of the other vertical ventilating holes 12.

The top edge 116 of the main body 10 may be narrower than the bottomedge 118 of the main body 10 such that the outer and inner surfaces 12,114 of the main body 10 are tapered between the top and bottom edges116, 118.

The plurality of horizontal dividers 132 may be disposed behind theplurality of vertical dividers 122 viewing from the outer surface 112 ofthe main body 10.

The inner surface 114 may comprise a peripheral portion 115 surroundingthe plurality of horizontal ventilating holes 13, and the plurality ofhorizontal dividers 132 may be extended from the peripheral portion 115as shown in FIG. 2.

The ventilating portion may be configured to cover a part of the innerrim of the cap 2 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The ventilator may beconfigured to cover full circumference of the inner rim of the cap 2,and the two side portions 120 may be connected with each other to form aring as shown in FIG. 5.

The main body 10 may be configured to bend accordingly to curvature ofthe inner rim of the cap 2. Thus, the ventilating portion can be fittedinto the inner rim of a cap 2 of a different size. The plurality ofvertical ventilating holes 12 may comprise a vertical ventilating hole12′ with an oblong shape of cross-section, which is configured tofacilitate bending of the main body 10 as shown in FIG. 8.

The cap 2 may have one or more ventilating holes 5 as shown in FIGS. 4and 5. The ventilator is configured to locate between the cap 2 and auser's head providing airflows between the inside and outside of thecap.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference todifferent embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilledin the art that variations in form, details, compositions and operationmay be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas defined by the accompanying claims.

1. A cap, comprising: a crown portion having an inner rim; a main bodydisposed at a portion of inner rim of the crown portion, the main bodyhaving a curved band shape, the main body comprising an outer surface,an inner surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, and two side portions; aplurality of vertical ventilating holes provided between the top andbottom edges of the main body, wherein the plurality of verticalventilating holes are separated by a plurality of vertical dividers; anda plurality of horizontal ventilating holes provided between theplurality of vertical ventilating holes and the inner surface of themain body, wherein the plurality of horizontal ventilating holes areseparated by a plurality of horizontal dividers, wherein the main body,the plurality of vertical ventilating holes, and the plurality ofhorizontal ventilating holes are formed in a monolith body.
 2. The capof claim 1, further comprising: a moisture absorbing surface provided onat least part of the inner surface of the main body; and a Velcro layerprovided on the outer surface of the main body, wherein the Velcro layeris adapted to attach the main body to the inner rim of the crownportion.
 3. The cap of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of clipsprovided at the top edge of the main body over the outer surface of themain body, each of which is adapted to fasten to and release a part ofthe inner rim of the crown portion.
 4. The cap of claim 1, wherein atleast one of the plurality of vertical ventilating holes has an oblongshape of cross-section, length of which being longer than about twotimes of one of the other vertical ventilating holes.
 5. The cap ofclaim 1, wherein the top edge of the main body is narrower than thebottom edge of the main body such that the outer and inner surfaces ofthe main body are tapered between the top and bottom edges.
 6. The capof claim 1, wherein the plurality of horizontal dividers are disposedbehind the plurality of vertical dividers viewing from the outer surfaceof the main body.
 7. The cap of claim 6, wherein the inner surfacecomprises a peripheral portion surrounding the plurality of horizontalventilating holes, and wherein the plurality of horizontal dividers areextended from the peripheral portion.
 8. The cap of claim 1, wherein themain body is configured to cover a part of the inner rim of the crownportion.
 9. The cap of claim 1, wherein the main body is configured tocover full circumference of the inner rim of the crown portion, andwherein the two side portions are connected with each other to form aring.
 10. The cap of claim 1, wherein the main body is configured tobend accordingly to curvature of the inner rim of the crown portion. 11.The cap of claim 10, wherein the plurality of vertical ventilating holescomprises a vertical ventilating hole with an oblong shape ofcross-section, which is configured to facilitate bending of the mainbody.